Chang'an County, Xuanyifang.
The door of Yang Zhao's dilapidated little house was open, and people were coming and going inside, filled with the joy of harvest.
Most of the piles in the yard were bulk items such as cloth and grain that had been moved from the warehouse of Yang Shenjin's residence, and an accountant was counting them.
A few of the Right Guards had already taken off their armor and were sitting by the well drinking wine and eating meat, feasting on the food while staring at the accountant.
Someone came in and knocked on the already open door.
Someone in Youxiao Guard recognized Xue Bai and quickly stood up and said: "Xue Langjun is here, Yang Canjun is inside."
"Thank you."
Xue Bai nodded in thanks and walked towards the lobby.
Several right Xiaowei sat down again and started muttering.
"Who is that?"
"You have to remember him. At such a young age, he is more serious than chicken tongue plague. Hey, Tian Da and Tian Er, what are you doing standing outside? Come in and have a drink. You are different now!"
…
What was being counted in the lobby were relatively valuable items. A young man was sitting on a large table staring at them. When he saw Xue Bai coming in, he shouted rudely.
"Who are you? Don't come in, you know?"
"I dare to ask, but in front of the Yang family's eldest son?" Xue Bai heard that Yang Zhao said that his eldest son Yang Xuan was seventeen years old at the time, so he must be this one. "My uncle and I will come to see him if we have something to do."
"Who is the uncle?"
Probably because few people in Chang'an City regard Yang Zhao as his uncle, Yang Xuan is quite confused.
He resembles his father exactly, he is tall and handsome, but when he opens his mouth he looks like a straw bag.
"Da Lang is too humble. As a relative of a noble concubine, he keeps it quiet."
Yang Xuan opened his mouth, finally reacted, turned his head and shouted loudly in the direction of the backyard.
"Mom! Your concubine accepts me as your uncle, and our family will become rich!"
After a while, a maid hurried over and said anxiously: "Da Lang, don't yell. Aren't you afraid of waking up A Lang?"
After that, she took Xue Bai to the backyard.
"Alang is asleep. Jun Lang, please wait a moment and let me wake him up."
"There's no need to wake uncle Guo, I'll just wait."
Xue Bai knew that Yang Zhao would not be able to sleep for long, because there was a cashier in the lobby who was ready to write a gift list.
When it comes to gift orders, there are particular considerations about who to give them to and how much to give. Yang Zhao can only do it himself, which shows that he also has talents that others cannot do for him.
Suddenly, a figure flashed in front of him.
Xue Bai turned around and saw a man wearing a belt running from the west wing to the back door, bypassing the main room and disappearing.
After that, Pei Rou, Yang Zhao's former prostitute's wife, came out of the west wing quickly, with a blush on her face, and enthusiastically led Xue Bai to sit in the west wing.
"Don't misunderstand me, young man. The brother who was my concubine just now came over to talk about some family matters."
"It turns out that he is the husband of the Pei family. I was so rude. I thought it was someone from the Yang family who reported the matter and I was in a hurry to do it."
Xue Bai responded casually, gave Pei Rou the steps very considerately, and quickly took a look at the west wing.
There are brand-new books on the desk, which are the nine canonical texts required for the Ming Dynasty examination. The ink in the inkstone has been dried and cracked. There is a piece of paper spread out there, with the word "Xuan" written all over it. Everything was covered in thick dust, except for a few wine bottles.
This is Yang Xuan's house.
Walking around the screen, the quilt on the couch was messy, and a piece of red cloth fell on the ground... no, it was a bellyband.
Pei Rou quickly stepped forward to pick up the bellyband and said with a smile: "This belongs to Da Lang. That kid has liked to wear these things since he was a child."
"Yes, warm."
"Young men wear it too?" Pei Rou said teasingly, reaching out and pushing Xue Bai, "Sit on the couch? It'll keep warm."
Xue Bai yawned loudly, sat down on the bench, and said, "Madam, don't be surprised. I worked on the case with my uncle all night last night, so I was very sleepy."
"I think you are in much better spirits than that heartless one. The young man has better health and stronger anger... Hmm? Young man?"
Halfway through Pei Rou's showoff, she saw Xue Bai closing his eyes and falling asleep.
The warm winter sun shone through the window paper on the young man's face, and she couldn't help but want to peck him. It's a pity that Hong Lip came forward, Xue Bai shook his head and buried his head.
~~
Xue Bai pretended to be asleep at first, but then he really fell asleep. I don't know how long it took, but Yang Zhao pushed me to wake up.
"Uncle Guo, is it funny that I fell asleep in your house?"
Yang Zhao's face was tired, his eyes were empty, and even his smile seemed empty, and he said: "It doesn't matter, you and I don't want to see each other outside. I secretly said a good word to you this morning. When I was interrogating the two right guards, Can you tell?"
"I owe Uncle Guo a lot."
Xue Bai already felt that he could not afford the cost of friendship with Yang Zhao.
After all, you have to let others help with the burden.
"I came today because I have a windfall that I want to give to my uncle."
"Oh?" Yang Zhao suddenly became more energetic, "Speak quickly."
"Ji Wen has colluded with the East Palace..."
Yang Zhao yawned, waved his hand and said: "Do I need you to tell me this? But to investigate something like chicken tongue plague, why do we need to mobilize the Sixteenth Guards? We will not copy it."
In the morning at the Right Prime Minister's Mansion, Wang Zhi dismissed the others and talked with Li Linfu alone. Yang Zhao only saw Ji Wen being escorted away by Luo Xixi, and did not know the inside story of many things.
Xue Bai then whispered: "Wang Langzhong and You Xiang reported that the dead men of the East Palace were hiding in Jiwen's mansion."
"How did you find out?"
"I found out and told Wang Langzhong." Xue Bai asked: "The right minister didn't ask the uncle to search."
Yang Zhao raised his eyebrows and asked in surprise: "Is this matter handed over to Wang Zhi?"
"That's the case. Can uncle Guo still go?"
"I have to go." Yang Zhao rolled his eyes, and in a moment he came up with a plan and said: "The king also needs manpower to do his work. After I please his favor, I can be loyal to my right minister again."
"Uncle Guo's clever plan."
Yang Zhao rushed to the courtyard, picked up the snow and wiped his tired face, cheering up and working with a desperate attitude.
He rushed to the hall, where the accounting gentlemen were checking the gift list.
"It has been changed. The gift for the Prince of Hubu will be doubled. Except for the Right Prime Minister and Mrs. Guo Guo, the rest of the gifts will be reduced a little. Pack them up for me immediately. I want to send them over now. Hurry."
~~
After arriving at the Wang residence with two large boxes of gold, silver, jade, and rare treasures, Wang Xie accepted the gifts directly and asked the steward to lead Xue Bai and Yang Zhao to the front hall to sit down.
Yang Zhao was very proud and said: "Look, what I said to you is worth a thousand pieces of gold, right?"
"That's what uncle Guo said."
"Then I will give you another word of gold." Yang Zhao said, somewhat hating the iron that cannot be made into steel: "What is the basis for progress? Winning the favor of the saint. What is the greatest skill of the right minister and the king? Collecting money for the saint, this It’s about doing practical things. What’s the use of running around all night doing nothing?”
Make money, make money, make money.
Only when you understand this principle can you understand the officialdom of the Tang Dynasty.
Li Linfu and Wang Xian were lucky enough to be promoted because they worshiped the saints, but their talents and reputation were not enough to convince the public. They were always in danger, so they ostracized and deposed the upright and knowledgeable people in the dynasty, and the whole country worshiped one person.
You can understand it when you say it, but the experience is not profound but it is often easy to forget.
Take Ji Wen for example. If Ji Wen hadn't been provoked by Li Linfu to compete with Xue Bai for credit, go investigate the case and do "empty things", how would he have ended up like that? Far less transparent and firm than Yang Zhao.
If Xue Bai does this again, Yang Zhao will break up with him.
After talking and waiting for a while, Wang Fei came to see him in person.
"The gift from Yang Canjun is too generous."
"The New Year is approaching, and I can't express my thoughts. It will make the prince laugh."
Wang Fei sat down on the main seat and said in a calm tone, "I heard that You Xiaowei took some items from the Yang family's villa, but is it true?"
Yang Zhao was startled and immediately panicked, not daring to answer.
He didn't understand. Did Wang Fei want him to return the property to Yang Shenjin? Let’s talk about it after accepting the gift. I’m used to ripping off the skin, and it’s on the head of the noble concubine’s brother?
"this……"
"Since my cousin asked me, I have to ask for him. If there is someone in Youxiao Guard who has unclean hands and feet, just return a few items to him."
"Yes Yes."
Yang Zhao was a little confused after hearing this, not sure what Wang Zhi meant.
He hesitated, but still asked: "I heard that the dead men of the East Palace are hiding in Jiwen's mansion, and the right minister has been handed over to Wang Langzhong for investigation. I wonder if we need manpower?"
Wang Fei smiled and looked at Xue Bai.
Xue Bai quickly saluted.
Although he didn't say a word, he actually gave Wang Fei another big gift.
——I don’t doubt the Wang family, I only doubt Jiwen. I have to go and check Jiwen carefully.
"That's fine." Wang Fei said, "I'll send one person to go with Yang Canjun."
Yang Zhao was overjoyed and immediately understood what Wang Fei meant.
Randomly taking some worthless items and returning them to Yang Shenjin showed Wang Zhen's desire to repay his kindness. At that time, if Yang Shenjin is dissatisfied, it has nothing to do with Wang Zhi, and it is a shameless act.
Yang Zhao had to take Xue Bai to Youxiaowei Yamen to transfer people and wait for Wang Xing to send him.
~~
"Has Pei Mian arrived?"
"Waiting for Alang in the study."
Wang Fei returned to the study from the front hall.
In the study, a man wearing a dark blue official robe stood up quickly, saluted the king respectfully, and called: "Your Majesty."
"Zhang Fu, there's no need to be polite, just sit down."
Wang Fei took the seat first, and when he looked around, he saw Pei Mian waiting for a while before sitting down on the bench one step later. He couldn't help but be very satisfied.
Pei Mian, named Zhangfu, was forty-three years old at the time, older than Wang Xian.
He was born in the Pei family in Hedong, and had been an official for generations. When he entered the officialdom, he was awarded Weinan County Wei, and when he first entered the officialdom, he was appointed Guanji County. His background was much higher than that of a common man from a high family like Wang Xian.
When Wang He was in charge of He Bian and served as the interview and deposed envoy within the Gyeonggi Pass, he was still just a judge under Wang He.
However, Pei Mian was decisive and loyal in character. What was even more rare was that he never looked down upon Wang Xi, a concubine, as a legitimate son of a high family, and had a humble and respectful attitude.
He also stood up when Wang He was assassinated and blocked a knife for Wang He...
"The dead man of the East Palace is hiding in my brother's house." Wang Xian asked directly: "You were there last night, do you know?"
In order to make money, the two of them did more dirty things than this heinous crime. Pei Mian didn't react much after hearing this and replied slowly.
"You also know that I live very close to my second brother's villa. Last night, before midnight, my second brother sent someone to say that an old manager of the villa passed away and that the funeral had to be held at night to avoid unnecessary trouble. The master's house was affected during the day, and it was hard to have anyone in charge. I didn't dare to neglect, so I went straight over. I also noticed that the servants in the other house were all strong and strong-looking. But they didn't go in that direction at that time. think."
"Where have people gone?"
"I performed rituals at night and took him to the Yanping Gate in the southwest. I waited until the city gate opened at dawn and then sent him out of the city for burial. I left at that time."
Yanping Gate is in the southwest of Chang'an, and the Sixteenth Guards of Nanya searched the northeast corner of Chang'an all night. It was too late to pursue further investigations at this time.
However, Wang Fei was not very concerned about this matter and said: "My brother is not colluding with the East Palace. He was used by Ji Wen. Someone died in Ji Wen's house last night... Do you know what to do?"
Pei Mian stood up and saluted: "Don't worry, I have never made any mistakes when doing things for you."
Wang Fei nodded, and the topic suddenly changed.
"The saint loves the imperial concubine more and more. This matter will also benefit Yang Zhao. Let him take You Xiaowei to investigate with you."
"Here."
"The right prime minister has a new dog named Xue Bai. You have solid evidence of Ji Wen's crime and let him and Luo Xishi hear about it."
Wang Fei didn't notice that Pei Mian was stunned for a moment.
~~
Xuanyangfang, Jiwen Villa.
Yang Zhao and Xue Bai stood in front of the blocked door and waited until they yawned until they finally heard a shout.
"coming."
Xue Bai turned around and saw Luo Xishi coming side by side with someone else, and was stunned for a moment.
"You don't recognize that person, do you?"
"I don't recognize it."
Xue Bai shook his head, thinking of the document that he tore into a small piece.
Yang Zhao whispered: "Prince Wang's capable general Pei Mian, don't provoke him."
Xue Bai praised: "Since he is the most trusted person among the princes, he will definitely be able to find evidence that Ji Wen colluded with the East Palace."
…
Over there, Pei Mian glanced at him and said casually: "Is that person Xue Bai? I've heard of him, he turns out to be so young."
Luo Xishi said: "Don't look at his young age. He found all the clues in tracking down the dead man last night, but it was a pity that it was a step too late."
Pei Mian looked calm, doing his own thing, and just made a casual comment.
"That's great. You will definitely become a great person in the future, right?"
~~
This group of minions of the right prime minister entered Jiwen's house, and they were immediately in a panic.
Xue Bai always followed Yang Zhao.
He stayed up all night, and his eyelids gradually felt heavy.
Suddenly, Luo Xishi hurried out of the backyard without saying hello to Yang Zhao, and left quickly without even asking for his belongings.
Xue Bai glanced back, knowing that Luo Xishi had found evidence.
He knew that since this evidence was given by Pei Mian, it would definitely satisfy Li Linfu.
But, in this case, can we still defeat the prince? Xue Bai suddenly became suspicious again...
"What are you thinking about?" Yang Zhao put down the turquoise in his hand and praised: "Jiwen has copied a lot of good things over the years."
"yes."
"What do you want? Just ask!"
Where Xue Bai's eyes fell, it was in the west wing where the slaves were detained. Several figures in colorful skirts were kneeling in the corridor, looking very pitiful.
Yang Zhao followed his gaze and couldn't help laughing.
